SIHH 2009: Ralph Lauren Unveils Watch Collections Stirrup, Slim Classique, and Sporting

The recently announced watch collections of Ralph Lauren made their debut at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie this week.  Three collections have been unveiled, each displaying a distinctively luxurious identity.

The Ralph Lauren Stirrup watch collection is perhaps the most recognizable, and evokes the lifestyle and interests of Ralph Lauren himself.  Suggestive of the equestrian world, the evocative stirrup-shaped case of these watches are crafted in 18-karat gold and platinum exclusively; this unusual but exceptionally attractive form is complimented by lacquered white dials with Roman numeral hour markers.  The Ralph Lauren Stirrup collection is composed of both time only models in several sizes and a chronograph; both styles are animated by self-winding mechanical movements produced for Ralph Lauren by the manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre.  A limited platinum version of the Stirrup Chronograph is also to be offered, in an series of 67 pieces to commemorate the 1967 founding of Polo Ralph Lauren. 

A statement of pure elegance is the best summation of the Ralph Lauren Slim Classique watch collection.  The slender 42mm cases of these watches are crafted exclusively from platinum, or 18-karat gold in several shades.  The fine, engraved pattern decorating the bezel is complimented by guilloched opaline dials with black-oxidized or blued steel "Breguet" hands.  Ticking inside the case is an ultra-slim manual movement from Piaget, whose overall height is just 2.1 millimeters.  The watches are completed by straps in alligator, and an ardillon buckle in gold or platinum.  

The Ralph Lauren Sporting watch collection, as its name suggest, evokes a vision luxury which is more casually elegant.  The cases of these watches, crafted from polished stainless steel or 18-karat gold depending upon the model, display a signature bezel with six round screws and classical dials with Roman numeral hour figures.  Among the models which will be offered within the Ralph Lauren Sporting watch collection are a chronograph with date, a hand-wound watch with small seconds, and a dual-time model with a cities of the world disc, a day night indicator, and a power reserve complication.